Apple tree named ‘Fugachee Fuji’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Fuji apple tree ( Malus pumila ) named ‘Fugachee Fuji’ is disclosed. The fruit of the new variety is characterized by its early maturity and attractive blush coloration.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malus pumila.

Variety denomination: ‘Fugachee Fuji’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Fugachee Fuji’ apple tree was discovered as a sport mutation of itsparent ‘Fuji’ (unpatented) tree in a cultivated orchard near Brewster,Wash. in 1998. ‘Fugachee Fuji’ was asexually propagated by budding atthe same location in 1998, and has been observed to remain stable andtrue to type over successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Fugachee Fuji’ apple tree is distinguishable from its parent ‘Fuji’and from other known and related varieties by its early maturing fruit,and fruit coloration having a pronounced blush covering seventy to 90percent of the fruit surface. Fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’ is furtherdistinguishable by its large size as compared to ‘Fuji’.

‘Fugachee Fuji’ has been compared to ‘Fiero’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.11,193), a similar ‘Fuji’-type apple tree. Like ‘Fiero’, ‘Fugachee Fuji’is an early maturing variety, and its fruit exhibits an attractive blushovercolor. However, ‘Fugachee Fuji’ matures even earlier than ‘Fiero’. Acomparison of ‘Fugachee Fuji’, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Fiero’ is shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Fugachee Fuji’ to ‘Fuji’ and ‘Fiero’ ‘FugacheeFuji’ ‘Fuji’ ‘Fiero’ Maturity Date Late September Late October MidOctober Color 70-90% red blush 25-50% red blush 60-100% red or stripeblush

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a selection of fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’;

FIG. 2 shows a fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’;

FIG. 3 shows a fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’;

FIG. 4 shows a fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’;

FIG. 5 shows sectioned fruit of ‘Fugachee Fuji’; and

FIG. 6 shows a ‘Fugachee Fuji’ tree and leaves.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed botanical description of ‘Fugachee Fuji’ is basedon observations made during the 2003 and 2004 growing seasons of treesplanted in 2002 at Brewster, Wash. and Parker, Wash., USA. Colors,except those colors described in common terms, are set forth inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Thebotanical characteristics described will vary somewhat depending uponcultural practices and climatic conditions, and can vary with locationand season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group ofplants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Type.—Non-Spur.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Size.—Height, 1.5 m; diameter, 2.7 m.        -   Trunk.—Diameter 20 cm at 10 cm above graft union; bark            texture rough; brown N200D, greyed-orange173B,            greyed-orange165A; smooth areas greyed-orange 166A;            lenticels 0.2 to 0.8 cm long; lenticel color greyed orange            165D.        -   Branches.—Length 120 cm; diameter 4 cm; smooth;            greyed-orange 165A; internode length 4 to 6 cm.        -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy where tested (Brewster, Wash.).-   Flowers:    -   -   Bud.—Quantity per spur 4 to 6; elongated; length 0.9 cm;            diameter 0.6 cm; yellow-green 146C; tip red-purple 62A.        -   Flower color (balloon stage).—White 155D.        -   Flower size.—Diameter 4.3 to 4.4 cm; 4 to 6 flowers per            cluster; not showy.        -   Petals.—5 per flower; overlapping; length 1.7 cm; width 1.1            cm; margin smooth; upper surface color white 155D; lower            surface color white 155D when fully open.        -   Sepals.—Length 4 mm; width 2 mm; yellow-green 146C.        -   Pistil.—Quantity 5; length 8 to 10 mm; yellow-green 145C.        -   Anthers.—Length 5 mm; pollen abundant, yellow 1A.        -   Bloom period.—March 28 to April 20 at Brewster, Wash.-   Leaf:    -   -   Leaf size.—Length 9 cm; width 6 cm.        -   Length-width ratio.—Medium.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Shape.—Ovate; base rounded; apex acute.        -   Venation.—Reticulate.        -   Color.—Upper surface green 137A; lower surface green 138D;            vein green 138D.        -   Petiole.—Length 4.5 cm; diameter 1 mm; yellow green 145B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Diameter 8.0 cm; height 8 1 cm.        -   Ratio of height to width.—Medium.        -   General shape in profile.—Globose.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Middle.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—Absent or very weak.        -   Depth of eye basin.—0.6 cm.        -   Width of eye basin.—2.9 cm.        -   Stalk.—Length 3.0 cm, width 0.4 cm at limb attachment;            Yellow 1C.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—2.0 cm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—4.1 cm.        -   Size of lenticels.—Small; diameter approximately 1.0 mm.        -   Bloom of skin.—Present.        -   Ground color of skin.—Yellow green 151C.        -   Over color of skin.—Red N34D.        -   Amount of over color.—70% to 90%.        -   Intensity of over color.—Medium.        -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush.        -   Skin thickness.—Medium.        -   Skin texture.—Smooth.        -   Flesh.—White 158A, slightly astringent, slightly tart, firm,            crisp, very juicy.        -   Seeds.—Avg. 6 per fruit; width 0.5 cm; length 1.0 cm;            greyed-orange 165A, oval, smooth.        -   Quantity per cluster.—Avg 3 to 5.-   Use: Fresh market.-   Resistance to known diseases: None noted.-   Storageability: Not yet evaluated.

1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as shown and describedherein.